Action | Develop regulations for a mandatory continuing education requirement for architect, professional engineer, and land surveyor licenses. |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 5/2/2008 |
Before seemingly well-meaning laws are promulgated, the authors need to consider another law, known as the "law of unintended consequences". Requiring a 16 hour/biennium continuing education requirement to maintain a P.E. certification seems on the surface to be a good idea. I received my Virginia P.E. license in 1979, more for personal pride rather than as a "must" for the industrial position I held at the time. I have kept my license current until now. If the proposed rule change becomes effective, I will most likely not renew. I suspect many others who don't absolutely need a license will follow suit. An unintended consequence will be a significant loss of license renewal fees. Also, fewer new licenses will be issued when potential licensees learn of the continuing education requirement. I don't think this was the intent of HB1054.